Separator



Nov.20, 1945. J, BUZARD 2,389,130

SEPARATOR Filed Oct. 25, 1942 INVENTOR 7OH/V 54/2450.

ATTOR Y Patented Nov. 20, 1945 SEPARATOR John Blizard, Garden City, N. Y., assignor to Foster Wheeler Corporation, New York, 'N. Y., a corporation of New York Application ctober23, 1942, Serial No. 463,042

Claims.

This invention relates to separators and more particularly pertains to the mechanical separation of substances of different specific gravities from mixtures thereof.

The invention will be disclosed as embodied in apparatus for the separation of steam and water from a mixture of the same, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but is capable of application generally to the separation of substances of difierent specific gravities from mixtures of the same.

The invention will be understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a more or less diagrammatic, vertical sectional view of steam and water separating apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a'transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing another form of the invention;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of, part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing. a further form of the invention, and

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Like characters of reference refer to the same or to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, reference character I0 designates a stationary housing having a transverse partition II which separates the housing into an inlet chamber I2 and an outlet chamber I3. A mixture of steam and water is introduced into the apparatus through a conduit I l, the inner end of which discharges tangentially into the upper part of the chamber I2. Chamber I2 has an outlet I5 in its lower portion for separated water, and chamber I3 has an outlet I6 for separated steam. A rotatable separating member I! is mounted in the upper part of the inlet chamber I2, on a vertical shaft I8 having bearings in the upper and lower walls of the housing I0. Shaft I8 has a gear I9 at its lower end, as shown, through which the shaft is rotated, during operation of the separating apparatus, in a clockwise direction viewed from the upper end of the apparatus. Separating member I1 is fixed to the shaft I8 by any suitable means, such as the pins which pass through the hub 2| of the member and the shaft. Supporting arms 22 extend between the hub 2I and the annulus of the separating member, at the lower end thereof and adjacent the upper end.

As shown, the inner and outer walls of the member I1 flare upwardly and outwardly but they may be parallel to the axis about which the member rotates, if desired. The outer wall of the member I! is spaced from the inner wall of the chamber I2 to provide an annular inlet portion I2 for the chamber I2. The upper end of the member I1 is disposed closely adjacent the lower wall of the partition II and is provided with vanes 23. The partition II has a restricted central outlet opening 24 which is smaller in its largest diameter than the inner diameter of the upper end of the member H.

In operation, the steam and water mixture enters the upper. part of portion I2 of the inlet chamber I2 through conduit I 4, and moves in a spiral path downwardly therethrough, causing the separation of some of the water by centrifugal action. The separated water will fall to the bottom of the chamber I2 or run down the vertical wall thereof, and the steam and remaining entrained water will make an abrupt change in direction of flow in the chamber I2, thereby separating out more entrained water which also will fall to the bottom of the chamber, and will pass into the lower or inlet end of the separating member I! and will flow upwardly therein. Due to the rotation of the member I! and the whirling movement of the steam and water mixture therein, the water will be thrown to the wall of the member and will move up the outwardly flaring wall to the upper end of the member H, where it will flow outwardly through the passages between the vanes 23 with a small quantity or fraction of steam, and will be thrown against the wall of the chamber I2, down which the water will flow to the bottom of the chamber, to be withdrawn through outlet I5. The steam will flow upwardly through separating member I1 and out the upper or outlet end thereof, and will pass through restricted outlet opening 24 into outlet chamber I3 and will be withdrawn through outlet conduit I6. The water flowing from the upper end of separating member I! will prevent the flow of steam and water mixture through the relatively small space between the member I! and the partition I I from the upper end of portion I2 of the chamber I2 to the interior of the member I1. Vanes 23 will cause the separated water to pass continuously through the small space at the upper end of member H.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2', excepting that vanes 25 are disposed on. the lower outer wall of the rotating separating member I! The form of the invention shown in Figs. 5

and 6 is the same as the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with. the exception of the vanes 26 which are fixed to the shaft I8 above the partition II and the restricted opening 24 therein, in the path of flow of the steam leaving the separating member 11, to cause the separated steam to do work in propelling the shaft. After the separating apparatus is operating, it may be desirable to drive the shaft l8 and the separating member I! entirely through the vanes 26, in which event the drive through the gear l9 will be discontinued. It will be understood that the vanes 26 may be used with the vanes 25, if desired.

The embodiments of the invention selected for illustration are preferred forms and changes may bev made in the form, location and relative arrangement of the several parts of the apparatus disclosed without. departing from the principles of the invention. For example, any suitable means other than the gear l9 shown, may be employed to drive the shaft 18 and the rotating separating member I1, and the inlet conduit l4 may discharge otherwise than tangentially into the inlet chamber l2. Moreover, the separated steam may be conducted directly from the apparatus from the restricted opening 24, thereby eliminating the outlet chamber l3. In view thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited excepting by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for the separation of substances of difierent specific gravities comprising, a housing having a substantially circular chamber with upper and lower ends and outlet openings in theupper and lower portions thereof, a separating member within the chamber and. spaced from the side wall thereof to provide a substantially annular inlet portion for the chamber, the separating member having a tubular-portion with an inlet at the end' thereof nearest the lower end of the housing and. an outlet at the end thereof nearest the upper end of" said housing; said outlet extending adjacent the periphery of the in ner wall of the chamber and adjacent the central portion of said member, the inlet of the member and the outlet thereof adjacent the periphery of the inner wall of the chamber being in communication with the chamber and the outlet adjacent the central portion of the memher being in communication with the chamber outlet opening, the inner wall of the separating member having an approximately circular transverse cross-sectional configuration, said inner wall flaring outwardly from the inlet to the outlet end of the member, means for rotating the separating member about its longitudinal axis, and a conduit having its discharge end connected with the annular inlet portion of the chamber between the opposite ends of the separating member and adjacent the outlet end of the member.

2. Apparatus for the separation of substances of different specific graw'ties comprising a housing having a substantially circular chamber with upper and lower ends and outlet openings in the upper and lower portions thereof, a separating member within the chamber and spaced from theside wall thereof to provide a substantially annular inlet portion for the chamber, the separating member having a tubular portion with an inlet at the end thereof nearest the lower end of the housing and an outlet at the end thereof nearest the upper end of said housing, said outlet extending adjacent the periphery of the inner wall of the chamber and adjacent the central portion of said member, the inlet of the member and the outlet thereof adjacent the periphery of the inner wall of the chamber being in communication with the chamber and the outlet adjacent the central portion of the member being in communication with the chamber outlet openin the inner wall of the separating member having an approximately circular transverse cross-sectional configuration, said inner wall flaring outwardly from the inlet to the outlet end of the member, means for rotating the separating member about its longitudinal axis, and a conduit having its discharge end connected with the annular inlet portion of the chamber tangentially thereof between the opposite ends of the separate member and adjacent the outlet end of said member.

3. Apparatus for the separation of substances of different specific gravities comprising a housing having a substantially circular chamber with upper and lower end walls and an outlet in the lower portion of the chamber and in said upper end wall, a separating member within said chamber and spaced from the wall thereof to provide a substantially annular inlet portion for the chamber, the separating member having a tubular portion with inlet and outlet openings at its ends and with an inner wall having an approximately circular transverse cross-sectional configuration, said inner wall flaring outwardly from the inlet to the outlet end of the member, the outlet end of the member being closely adjacent the upper end wall of the chamber, a plurality of spaced vanes on the outlet end of the member between said outlet end and the upper end wall of the chamber, the vanes extending toward the side wall of the chamber, said upper end wall having anoutlet opening therein smaller than the outlet end of the separating member and disposed substantially coaxially of said member, means for rotatingv the separating member about its longitudinal axis, and a conduit having its discharge end connected with the annular inlet portion of the chamber between the opposite ends of the separating member and adjacent the outlet end of the member.

4. Apparatus for the separation of substances of different specific gravities comprising a housing having a substantially circular chamber with upper and lower ends and outlet openings in the upper and lower portions thereof, a separating member within the chamber and spaced from the side wall thereof to provide a substantially annular inlet portion for the chamber, the separating member having a tubular portion with an inlet at the end thereof nearest the lower end of the housing and an outlet at the end thereof nearest the upper end of said housing, said outlet extending adjacent the periphery of the inner wall of the chamber and adjacent the central portion of said member, the inlet of the member and the outlet thereof adjacent the periphery of the inner wall of the chamber being in communication with the chamber and the outlet adjacent the central portion of the member being in communication with the chamber outlet opening, the inner wall of the separating member having an approximately circular transverse cross-sectional configuration, said inner wall flaring outwardly from the inlet to the outlet end of the member, vanes on the lower portion of the separating member extending into said annular portion, means for rotating the separating member about its longitudinal axis, and a conduit having its discharge end connected with the annular inlet portion of the chamber between the opposite ends of the separating member and adjacent the outlet end of said member.

5. Apparatus for the separation of substances of different specific gravities comprising a housing having a substantially circular chamber with upper and lower ends and outlet openings in the upper and lower portions thereof, a separating member within the chamber and spaced irom the side wall thereof to provide a substantially annular inlet portion for the chamber, the Separating member having a tubular portion with an inlet at the end thereof nearest the lower end of the housing and an outlet at the end thereof nearest the upper end of said housing, said outlet extending adjacent the periphery of the inner wall of the chamber and adjacent the central portion of said member, the inlet of the member and the outlet thereof adjacent the periphery of the inner wall of the chamber being in communication with the chamber and the outlet adjacent the central portion of the member being in communication with the chamber outlet open-- ing, the inner wall of the separating member having an approximately circular transverse cross-sectional configuration, said inner wall flaring outwardly from the inlet to the outlet end of the member, a conduit having its discharge end connected with the annular inletportion of the chamber between the opposite ends of the separating member and adjacent the outlet end of said member, and means fixed with relation to the axis of the separating member and in the path of flow of the substance of lighter specific gravity flowing from the separating member to impart rotary movement to the member.

JOHN BLIZARD. 

